The exterior of what looks like a vernacular Hamptons shingle cottage, designed by architect Blaze Makoid, is intentionally deceiving. For the interiors, Axis Mundi typically decided not to play by the rules. Instead of de rigeur nautical artifacts, floppy sofas and wicker furniture, the firm responded to Makoid’s all-white interior envelope by injecting rooms with comfortable modern elegance that’s more contemporary Cap Ferrat than Eastern Long Island. Clean furniture silhouettes—from Cassina, Poltrona Frau and B&B Italia—a Massimo Vitali beach scene, a Moooi chandelier and industrial finishes (such as the steel of the fireplace surround and the anodized aluminum of a sleek Bulthaup kitchen) spark a creative tension between indoors and out. The gray palette provides a quiet backdrop for the nature outside, except for the master suite, where custom oak panels and blue shades create a reassuring warmth conducive to sleep. Size: 1,920 sf Project Team: John Beckmann, Nick Messerlian and Richard Rosenbloom Architect: Blaze Makoid Architecture Photographer: Mark Roskams © Axis Mundi Design LLC

The exterior of what looks like a vernacular Hamptons shingle cottage, designed by architect Blaze Makoid, is intentionally deceiving. For the interiors, Axis Mundi typically decided not to play by the rules. Instead of de rigeur nautical artifacts, floppy sofas and wicker furniture, the firm responded to Makoid’s all-white interior envelope by injecting rooms with comfortable modern elegance that’s more contemporary Cap Ferrat than Eastern Long Island. Clean furniture silhouettes—from Cassina, Poltrona Frau and B&B Italia—a Massimo Vitali beach scene, a Moooi chandelier and industrial finishes (such as the steel of the fireplace surround and the anodized aluminum of a sleek Bulthaup kitchen) spark a creative tension between indoors and out. The gray palette provides a quiet backdrop for the nature outside, except for the master suite, where custom oak panels and blue shades create a reassuring warmth conducive to sleep. Size: 1,920 sf Project Team: John Beckmann, Nick Messerlian and Richard Rosenbloom Architect: Blaze Makoid Architecture Photographer: Mark Roskams © Axis Mundi Design LLC

Kitchen trends may come and go, but some classic choices are forever. Take antique white kitchen cabinets for instance.

White kitchen cabinets have ruled the mainstream decor for several years, and continue to do so. They not only blend seamlessly with just about any kitchen space but dramatically uplifts the ambiance with the furniture and accessories.

Antique white kitchen cabinets represent a restricted yet unique color palette. In other words, it can be considered a neutral binding color point for all the other elements like countertops, floorings, and fixtures. Besides, it serves as a great backdrop for any shades that one might pick for a semi-classic or completely modern kitchen.

Contrary to what many would like to believe, antique white kitchen cabinets are never boring, especially, if you know your way of working around it. In fact, quite the reverse, as white shaker cabinets make for a perfect pair to inclusions like marble countertops and interlocked wooden tiles.

No matter what, white kitchen cabinets bring forth the very best of depth and dimension in equal measure. If you have been planning to design your culinary space with antique white kitchen cabinets, this guide can be your first cue.

Here’s a look at 10 master tips to design a kitchen using white cabinets.

Embracing the Rustic Charm

Do you fancy a rustic styled kitchen space?

White kitchen cabinets can be paired alongside open shelves that are a picturesque setting, reminiscent of the French flea market. To add essence to the scene, opt for brick flooring connecting the space to an adjoining terrace looking over a sea or any water body.

The Eternal Black Accent

Many homeowners envision a cozy kitchen space to unwind themselves, cooking their favorite meal.

Antique white kitchen cabinets when matched with black accents readily impart a warm and inviting aura to the whole space. To spice up things, you might introduce a steel countertop and nickel made cookware.

The Old-World Bliss

Antique white cabinets are easily differentiated from others in the row owing to its classical trims and muted scrolls. When looking to create an old-world kitchen, white cabinets work fine with brass detailing on doorknobs and cabinet handles. Upholstered stools for counters, deviated barrage drawers, heavy kitchen sinks, mosaic tiles, and grey backsplashes can be other inclusions.

The Scullery Styled Kitchen

Antique white kitchen cabinets are rather an accessory of convenience for a culinary space, that also doubles up as a scullery.

Typically, such a structure is often deprived of broad daylight. Thus, it becomes more important to get the lighting done right. Start with overhead lamps or use LED light strips right under the cabinet or across the shelves overhead. With antique white kitchen cabinets, the setting of a scullery is per-designed to excel by all means. You might as well choose to include brass details, paired alongside the soapstone counters, further complemented by suspended shelves.

For the Country Hearted

Birdcage chairs placed around a pine casted table, with pendant lamps hanging above does throw in some serious country vibes. Tell you what, antique white kitchen cabinets
are seemingly the first choice for any country-inspired kitchen space. Add a few open shelves and a pair of garlands for the kitchen windows, and you are good to go!

Character Building

When it comes to designing a living space, character-building contrasts are a good way to add uncanny charm and appeal.

White shaker cabinets are a perfect choice to create a lovely nautical atmosphere paired with the right set of elements; furniture and fixtures.

Start by pairing your white cabinets with a simple toned down hemlock kitchen island. To add a dash of an urban feel, introduce counter stools in lilac.

If your budget prevails, you might as well take your designing game up a notch with a banquette type seating arrangement, using a combination of leather and acrylic fabric.

Picking Your Granite

Picking on the granite style for your antique white kitchen cabinets
can be a tad tricky.

Always aim to work with granite and glaze that are of the same color. Look for variation across granite offerings to add a little bit of jazz to your otherwise worldly setting.

While buying from the store, always ask for a sample to take back home and view it under varying light conditions.

Of Balance and Symmetry

If you have a U-shaped kitchen, it is necessary to pay close attention to details.

To avoid a mismatch, you will need to keep it toned down to one theme which would have the antique white cabinets in between and trickle-down further to the stovetops, plate trails, and open shelves.

Tile Floorings in Muted Colors

When designing a kitchen space with white cabinets, glass displays are usually a preferred choice. For such a setting, it is recommended that you stick to using flooring tiles in light colors. Beige and light grey are quite a popular choice.

Dine-in Style

Antique white kitchen cabinets can be used to bring the very best out of a dine-in style kitchen. Start by pairing the cabinets with a refectory table, preferably one that mimics the 19th-century furniture style.

Throw in a couple of bamboo-casted chairs with plank floorings to render an easy-going, modern, and functional vibe.

Wrap up

Hands down, antique white kitchen cabinets are the perfect pick for just about any style kitchen. Now that you have great insight into designing your culinary space, it's time to put things into action!

The client approached us as he had a property that benefited from an elevated position and water views over the Georges River. The current home needed a change to the layout, additional bedrooms and living spaces that captured the magnificent views and catering for their retirement. The existing property had a garage, rumpus room and two terrace’s within the front setback along the boundary which needed to remain as part of the proposal as it would not be permissible to reinstate them under the current planning rules. The floor plan of the development is meticulous in providing for the needs of the client. As seniors in their 70’s we were keen to provide easy access on a steep sloping block. The driveway, lift and elevation of the main floor level adjacent to the rear garden has achieved this brilliantly. Enjoyment of the stunning views over the river was of paramount importance and this has been elegantly achieved. There are great views from all three terraces, the entire upper floor, including the master bedroom, the lift, the rear patio and rear garden. The highlight of this home, however, is the enthusiastic manner which, both the client and designer approached the picturesque views. Large double glazed windows and doors optimally located provide wonderful thermal efficiency and a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors whilst ensuring privacy from neighbouring sites. The light and airy feeling in this space is complemented with the natural coastal finishes prevalent throughout the home.

The Bunker House is a two-story house with a bomb shelter in the basement. A bunker house is a two-story residential building with a basement bomb shelter. In a short time, we had to equip the basement, master the "two walls" principle and properly seal the windows to protect ourselves and our family from the impact of the shock wave. Our priorities have changed when choosing a home - proximity to the city center or transportation hubs no longer matters. Moreover, SENCE ARCHITECTS also took care of other safety aspects. According to the rules, the storage has two distributed exits outside, each with light "hints" of the direction of evacuation. The basement area is sealed and equipped with a double ventilation system. This is a zone of guaranteed protection against missile attacks, poisonous or radioactive substances, combustion products, and bacteriological weapons. The first mode works on air recovery, providing a fresh flow of it in the absence of heat loss. The second is carried out by a filter ventilation unit — it cleans the outside air, and then distributes it to the compartments and creates excess pressure. Thus, contaminated air will not penetrate inside even through small cracks in protective structures. CONCEPTUAL SOLUTION The structures of the building itself are made of strong reinforced concrete — this way SENCE ARCHITECTS suggests abandoning "glass" facades. The number of windows has also been reduced: they will have a protective anti-shock film, and in case of an explosive wave, they will be closed with reinforced shutters made of fire-resistant plywood. At the entrance to the house and bomb shelter, armored doors are installed. Water is supplied from its own artesian well, electricity — from its own diesel power plant. This means that possible damage to infrastructure facilities will not affect the lives of residents in any way. The house is equipped with modern types of radio- and telephone communication, and satellite Internet, which will work even in the bomb shelter. The signaling and air-raid alert systems are to be installed too. The systems are powered autonomously and have backup channels. Overall, given its specificity, the house is designed for a family of 4-5 people. Size / 733 sq.m. Year / 2022

Modern, eclectic home in an urban neighborhood, 1 block from the city's best park! It blends in with the old and new. The home has lots of interesting and expressive features from colorful accents to bold wall coverings and quirky shelving. It has playful and unexpected lighting, accessories, built-ins and artwork everywhere you look. A home should be a reflection of your life, your history, your personality, and never, ever look like it was done by the rules, a formula or a designer.

The exterior of what looks like a vernacular Hamptons shingle cottage, designed by architect Blaze Makoid, is intentionally deceiving. For the interiors, Axis Mundi typically decided not to play by the rules. Instead of de rigeur nautical artifacts, floppy sofas and wicker furniture, the firm responded to Makoid’s all-white interior envelope by injecting rooms with comfortable modern elegance that’s more contemporary Cap Ferrat than Eastern Long Island. Clean furniture silhouettes—from Cassina, Poltrona Frau and B&B Italia—a Massimo Vitali beach scene, a Moooi chandelier and industrial finishes (such as the steel of the fireplace surround and the anodized aluminum of a sleek Bulthaup kitchen) spark a creative tension between indoors and out. The gray palette provides a quiet backdrop for the nature outside, except for the master suite, where custom oak panels and blue shades create a reassuring warmth conducive to sleep. Size: 1,920 sf Project Team: John Beckmann, Nick Messerlian and Richard Rosenbloom Architect: Blaze Makoid Architecture Photographer: Mark Roskams © Axis Mundi Design LLC

James Latta Photography - As an interior designer, I liked my home but was not "in love" with it. I didn't feel in sync with the style and architecture despite compliments from friends and family. It was time for a change. I sold my Floating Home (see Sleepless in Portland: Houseboat Diary) and my La Quinta home (see Transitional Living, La Quinta) and downsized to a house that's a better fit. The home was lacking sufficient storage so I added a beverage center with storage cabinets and a butcher block countertop to the dining room. An Ikea table frame was powder coated in dark grey and fitted with a Cambria Quartz dining top. A matching quartz piece was added to create a kitchen bar seating area and includes a beautiful waterfall edge. Reclaimed wood square tiles were added to the kitchen pop up ceiling and the living room fireplace to add warmth and texture. Black and white photography of the local desert landscape frame the fireplace. Although the home is mainly grey, black and white, pops of red are a recurring theme thought the interior and exterior, including a red barn door at the kitchen pantry. I broke design rules and didnt take the "safe" route. Quirky accent items can be found throughout the home. These include a wall-mounted family accordion, framed movie quotes in one of the guest rooms, a custom canvas photo of my miniature schnauzer, and dragon print accent pillows throughout. A Tongue and Groove (T&G) wood ceiling transformed the master bedroom and a beautiful red area rug adds color and warmth. The result is DARING and yet comfortable. The backyard was completely renovated. Tons of white rock were removed and beautiful landscaping and lighting were added as well as an additional 500 square feet of pavers. A sun shade, red umbrellas, and patio misters create inviting seating areas for friends and family. Tongue and Groove wood was also added to the outdoor patio ceilings. A high end surround sound system and built in BBQ with patterned cement tiles complete this outdoor living space. The process was exhausting and time consuming but now that it is over, I am thrilled with the results. I now live in a home that nourishes my soul and better represents my style and tastes.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours The second-largest and most developed of Georgia's barrier islands, St. Simons is approximately twelve miles long and nearly three miles wide at its widest stretch (roughly the size of Manhattan Island in New York). The island is located in Glynn County on Georgia's coast and lies east of Brunswick (the seat of Glynn County), south of Little St. Simons Island and the Hampton River, and north of Jekyll Island. The resort community of Sea Island is separated from St. Simons on the east by the Black Banks River. Known for its oak tree canopies and historic landmarks, St. Simons is both a tourist destination and, according to the 2010 U.S. census, home to 12,743 residents. Early History The earliest St. Simons Island Village record of human habitation on the island dates to the Late Archaic Period, about 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. Remnants of shell rings left behind by Native Americans from this era survive on many of the barrier islands, including St. Simons. Centuries later, during the period known by historians as the chiefdom era, the Guale Indians established a chiefdom centered on St. Catherines Island and used St. Simons as their hunting and fishing grounds. By 1500 the Guale had established a permanent village of about 200 people on St. Simons, which they called Guadalquini. Beginning in 1568, the Spanish attempted to create missions along the Georgia coast. Catholic missions were the primary means by which Georgia's indigenous Native American chiefdoms were assimilated into the Spanish colonial system along the northern frontier of greater Spanish Florida. In the 1600s St. Simons became home to two Spanish missions: San Buenaventura de Guadalquini, on the southern tip of the island, and Santo Domingo de Asao (or Asajo), on the northern tip. Located on the inland side of the island were the pagan refugee villages of San Simón, the island's namesake, and Ocotonico. In 1684 pirate raids left the missions and villages largely abandoned. Colonial History As Fort Frederica early as 1670, with Great Britain's establishment of the colony of Carolina and its expansion into Georgia territory, Spanish rule was threatened by the English. The Georgia coast was considered "debatable land" by England and Spain, even though Spain had fully retreated from St. Simons by 1702. Thirty-one years later General James Edward Oglethorpe founded the English settlement of Savannah. In 1736 he established Fort Frederica, named after the heir to the British throne, Frederick Louis, prince of Wales, on the west side of St. Simons Island to protect Savannah and the Carolinas from the Spanish threat. Between 1736 and 1749 Fort Frederica was the hub of British military operations along the Georgia frontier. A town of the same name grew up around the fort and was of great importance to the new colony. By 1740 Frederica's population was 1,000. In 1736 the congregation of what would become Christ Church was organized within Fort Frederica as a mission of the Church of England. Charles Wesley led the first services. In 1742 Britain's decisive victory over Spain in the Battle of Bloody Marsh, during the War of Jenkins' Ear, ended the Spanish threat to the Georgia coast. When the British regimen disbanded in 1749, most of the townspeople relocated to the mainland. Fort Frederica went into decline and, except for a short time of prosperity during the 1760s and 1770s under the leadership of merchant James Spalding, never fully recovered. Today the historic citadel's tabby ruins are maintained by the National Park Service. Plantation Era By the start of the American Revolution (1775-83), Fort Frederica was obsolete, and St. Simons was left largely uninhabited as most of its residents joined the patriot army. Besides hosting a small Georgia naval victory on the Fort Frederica River, providing guns from its famous fort for use at Fort Morris in Sunbury, and serving as an arena for pillaging by privateers and British soldiers, the island played almost no role in the war. Following the war, many of the townspeople, their businesses destroyed, turned to agriculture. The island was transformed into fourteen cotton plantations after acres of live oak trees were cleared for farm land and used for building American warships, including the famous USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides." Although rice was the predominant crop along the neighboring Altamaha River, St. Simons was known for its production of long-staple cotton, which soon came to be known as Sea Island cotton. Between Ebos Landing the 1780s and the outbreak of the Civil War (1861-65), St. Simons's plantation culture flourished. The saline atmosphere and the availability of cheap slave labor proved an ideal combination for the cultivation of Sea Island cotton. In 1803 a group of Ebo slaves who survived the Middle Passage and arrived on the west side of St. Simons staged a rebellion and drowned themselves. The sacred site is known today as Ebos Landing. One of the largest owners of land and slaves on St. Simons was Pierce Butler, master of Hampton Point Plantation, located on the northern end of the island. By 1793 Butler owned more than 500 slaves, who cultivated 800 acres of cotton on St. Simons and 300 acres of rice on Butler's Island in the Altamaha River delta. Butler's grandson, Pierce Mease Butler, who at the age of sixteen inherited a share of his grandfather's estate in 1826, was responsible for the largest sale of human beings in the history of the United States: in 1859, to restore his squandered fortune, he sold 429 slaves in Savannah for more than $300,000. The British actress and writer Fanny Kemble, whose tumultuous marriage to Pierce ended in divorce in 1849, published an eyewitness account of the evils of slavery on St. Simons in her book Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839 (1863). Another Retreat Plantation large owner of land and slaves on St. Simons was Major William Page, a friend and employee of Pierce Butler Sr. Before purchasing Retreat Plantation on the southwestern tip of the island in 1804, Page managed the Hampton plantation and Butler's Island. Upon Page's death in 1827, Thomas Butler King inherited the land together with his wife, Page's daughter, Anna Matilda Page King. King expanded his father-in-law's planting empire on St. Simons as well as on the mainland, and by 1835 Retreat Plantation alone was home to as many as 355 slaves. The center of life during the island's plantation era was Christ Church, Frederica. Organized in 1807 by a group of island planters, the Episcopal church is the second oldest in the Diocese of Georgia. Embargoes imposed by the War of 1812 (1812-15) prevented the parishioners from building a church structure, so they worshiped in the home of John Beck, which stood on the site of Oglethorpe's only St. Simons residence, Orange Hall. The first Christ Church building, finished on the present site in 1820, was ruined by occupying Union troops during the Civil War. In 1884 the Reverend Anson Dodge Jr. rebuilt the church as a memorial to his first wife, Ellen. The cruciform building with a trussed gothic roof and stained-glass windows remains active today as Christ Church. Civil War and Beyond The St. Simons Island Lighthouse outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 put a sudden end to St. Simons's lucrative plantation era. In January of that year, Confederate troops were stationed at the south end of the island to guard the entrance to Brunswick Harbor. Slaves from Retreat Plantation, owned by Thomas Butler King, built earthworks and batteries. Plantation residents were scattered—the men joined the Confederate army and their families moved to the mainland. Cannon fire was heard on the island in December 1861, and Confederate troops retreated in February 1862, after dynamiting the lighthouse to keep its beacon from aiding Union troops. Soon thereafter, Union troops occupied the island, which was used as a camp for freed slaves. By August 1862 more than 500 former slaves lived on St. Simons, including Susie King Taylor, who organized a school for freed slave children. But in November the ex-slaves were taken to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Fernandina, Florida, leaving the island abandoned. After the Civil War the island never returned to its status as an agricultural community. The plantations lay dormant because there were no slaves to work the fields. After Union general William T. Sherman's January 1865 Special Field Order No. 15 —a demand that former plantations be divided and distributed to former slaves—was overturned by U.S. president Andrew Johnson less than a year later, freedmen and women were forced to work as sharecroppers on the small farms that dotted the land previously occupied by the sprawling plantations. By St. Simons Lumber Mills 1870 real economic recovery began with the reestablishment of the timber industry. Norman Dodge and Titus G. Meigs of New York set up lumber mill operations at Gascoigne Bluff, formerly Hamilton Plantation. The lumber mills provided welcome employment for both blacks and whites and also provided mail and passenger boats to the mainland. Such water traffic, together with the construction of a new lighthouse in 1872, designed by architect Charles B. Cluskey, marked the beginning of St. Simons's tourism industry. The keeper of the lighthouse created a small amusement park, which drew many visitors, as did the seemingly miraculous light that traveled from the top of the lighthouse tower to the bottom. The island became a summer retreat for families from the mainland, particularly from Baxley, Brunswick, and Waycross. The island's resort industry was thriving by the 1880s. Beachfront structures, such as a new pier and grand hotel, were built on the southeastern end of the island and could be accessed by ferry. Around this time wealthy northerners began vacationing on the island. Twentieth Century The St. Simons Island Pier and Village opening in 1924 of the Brunswick–St. Simons Highway, today known as the Torras Causeway, was a milestone in the development of resorts in the area. St. Simons's beaches were now easily accessible to locals and tourists alike. More than 5,000 automobiles took the short drive from Brunswick to St. Simons via the causeway on its opening day, paving the way for convenient residential and resort development. In 1926 automotive pioneer Howard Coffin of Detroit, Michigan, bought large tracts of land on St. Simons, including the former Retreat Plantation, and constructed a golf course, yacht club, paved roads, and a residential subdivision. Although the causeway had brought large numbers of summer people to the island, St. Simons remained a small community with only a few hundred permanent residents until the 1940s. The St. Simons Island outbreak of World War II (1941-45) brought more visitors and residents to St. Simons. Troops stationed at Jacksonville, Florida; Savannah; and nearby Camp Stewart took weekend vacations on the island, and a new naval air base and radar school became home to even more officers and soldiers. The increased wartime population brought the island its first public school. With a major shipyard for the production of Liberty ships in nearby Brunswick, the waters of St. Simons became active with German U-boats. In April 1942, just off the coast, the Texas Company oil tanker S. S. Oklahoma and the S. S. Esso Baton Rouge were torpedoed by the Germans, bringing the war very close to home for island residents. Due in large part to the military's improvement of the island's infrastructure during the war, development on the island boomed in the 1950s and 1960s. More permanent homes and subdivisions were built, and the island was no longer just a summer resort but also a thriving community. In 1950 the Methodist conference and retreat center Epworth by the Sea opened on Gascoigne Bluff. In 1961 novelist Eugenia Price visited St. Simons and began work on her first works of fiction, known as the St. Simons Trilogy. Inspired by real events on the island, Price's trilogy renewed interest in the history of Georgia's coast, and the novelist herself relocated to the island in 1965 and lived there for thirty-one years. St. Simons is also home to contemporary Georgia writer Tina McElroy Ansa. Since Epworth by the Sea 1980 St. Simons's population has doubled. The island's continued status as a vacation destination and its ongoing development boom have put historic landmarks and natural areas at risk. While such landmarks as the Fort Frederica ruins and the Battle of Bloody Marsh site are preserved and maintained by the National Park Service, and while the historic lighthouse is maintained by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, historic Ebos Landing has been taken over by a sewage treatment plant. Several coastal organizations have formed in recent years to save natural areas on the island. The St. Simons Land Trust, for example, has received donations of large tracts of land and plans to protect property in the island's three traditional African American neighborhoods. Despite its rapid growth and development, St. Simons remains one of the most beautiful and important islands on the Georgia coast.

James Latta Photography - As an interior designer, I liked my home but was not "in love" with it. I didn't feel in sync with the style and architecture despite compliments from friends and family. It was time for a change. I sold my Floating Home (see Sleepless in Portland: Houseboat Diary) and my La Quinta home (see Transitional Living, La Quinta) and downsized to a house that's a better fit. The home was lacking sufficient storage so I added a beverage center with storage cabinets and a butcher block countertop to the dining room. An Ikea table frame was powder coated in dark grey and fitted with a Cambria Quartz dining top. A matching quartz piece was added to create a kitchen bar seating area and includes a beautiful waterfall edge. Reclaimed wood square tiles were added to the kitchen pop up ceiling and the living room fireplace to add warmth and texture. Black and white photography of the local desert landscape frame the fireplace. Although the home is mainly grey, black and white, pops of red are a recurring theme thought the interior and exterior, including a red barn door at the kitchen pantry. I broke design rules and didnt take the "safe" route. Quirky accent items can be found throughout the home. These include a wall-mounted family accordion, framed movie quotes in one of the guest rooms, a custom canvas photo of my miniature schnauzer, and dragon print accent pillows throughout. A Tongue and Groove (T&G) wood ceiling transformed the master bedroom and a beautiful red area rug adds color and warmth. The result is DARING and yet comfortable. The backyard was completely renovated. Tons of white rock were removed and beautiful landscaping and lighting were added as well as an additional 500 square feet of pavers. A sun shade, red umbrellas, and patio misters create inviting seating areas for friends and family. Tongue and Groove wood was also added to the outdoor patio ceilings. A high end surround sound system and built in BBQ with patterned cement tiles complete this outdoor living space. The process was exhausting and time consuming but now that it is over, I am thrilled with the results. I now live in a home that nourishes my soul and better represents my style and tastes.

Sophistication and texture rule the day in this mid mod swanky lounge. Hot rolled steel mantel rebalances the existing chunky stone fireplace, while slatted wood walls extend the texture game to create warm, yet oh so cool lounge fit for whiskey and wit. Originally designed by esteemed PNW mid century architect, Ralph Anderson, this renovation won Historic Remodel Excellence award with Master Builders of King and Snohomish County in 2024.

This 3,600 sq ft home is an invitation to experience the beauty of a provincial European homestead in the Texas Hill Country French manner. The deep front porch invites you to sit, with its stucco arches, stone details, and shutter dressed windows. Under the vaulted and timber beamed ceilings, and amidst the arched entries cut into thickened walls, a very private home welcomes this family. The Master Suite location ensures that privacy along with some peace and quiet. The Kitchen and Great Room create open entertaining areas for this family, with fieldstone floors and French-inspired cabinetry. Upstairs, the kids rule, with their own entertaining and well thought-out details like the Study Nook and Library.

Bathroom by MF Construction & Design Inc.
Bathroom - contemporary bathroom idea in Los Angeles

Axis Mundi typically decided not to play by the rules. Instead of de rigeur nautical artifacts, floppy sofas and wicker furniture, the firm responded to Makoid’s all-white interior envelope by injecting rooms with comfortable modern elegance that’s more contemporary Cap Ferrat than Eastern Long Island. Clean furniture silhouettes—from Cassina, Poltrona Frau and B&B Italia—a Massimo Vitali beach scene, a Moooi chandelier and industrial finishes (such as the steel of the fireplace surround and the anodized aluminum of a sleek Bulthaup kitchen) spark a creative tension between indoors and out. The gray palette provides a quiet backdrop for the nature outside, except for the master suite, where custom oak panels and blue shades create a reassuring warmth conducive to sleep. Size: 1,920 sf Project Team: John Beckmann, Nick Messerlian and Richard Rosenbloom Architect: Blaze Makoid Architecture Contractor: Greg D'Angelo Construction Inc. Photographer: Mark Roskams © Axis Mundi Design LLC.

Axis Mundi typically decided not to play by the rules. Instead of de rigeur nautical artifacts, floppy sofas and wicker furniture, the firm responded to Makoid’s all-white interior envelope by injecting rooms with comfortable modern elegance that’s more contemporary Cap Ferrat than Eastern Long Island. Clean furniture silhouettes—from Cassina, Poltrona Frau and B&B Italia—a Massimo Vitali beach scene, a Moooi chandelier and industrial finishes (such as the steel of the fireplace surround and the anodized aluminum of a sleek Bulthaup kitchen) spark a creative tension between indoors and out. The gray palette provides a quiet backdrop for the nature outside, except for the master suite, where custom oak panels and blue shades create a reassuring warmth conducive to sleep. Size: 1,920 sf Project Team: John Beckmann, Nick Messerlian and Richard Rosenbloom Architect: Blaze Makoid Architecture Contractor: Greg D'Angelo Construction Inc. Photographer: Mark Roskams © Axis Mundi Design LLC.

Sophistication and texture rule the day in this mid mod swanky lounge. Hot rolled steel mantel rebalances the existing chunky stone fireplace, while slatted wood walls extend the texture game to create warm, yet oh so cool lounge fit for whiskey and wit. Originally designed by esteemed PNW mid century architect, Ralph Anderson, this renovation won Historic Remodel Excellence award with Master Builders of King and Snohomish County in 2024.

The client approached us as he had a property that benefited from an elevated position and water views over the Georges River. The current home needed a change to the layout, additional bedrooms and living spaces that captured the magnificent views and catering for their retirement. The existing property had a garage, rumpus room and two terrace’s within the front setback along the boundary which needed to remain as part of the proposal as it would not be permissible to reinstate them under the current planning rules. The floor plan of the development is meticulous in providing for the needs of the client. As seniors in their 70’s we were keen to provide easy access on a steep sloping block. The driveway, lift and elevation of the main floor level adjacent to the rear garden has achieved this brilliantly. Enjoyment of the stunning views over the river was of paramount importance and this has been elegantly achieved. There are great views from all three terraces, the entire upper floor, including the master bedroom, the lift, the rear patio and rear garden. The highlight of this home, however, is the enthusiastic manner which, both the client and designer approached the picturesque views. Large double glazed windows and doors optimally located provide wonderful thermal efficiency and a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors whilst ensuring privacy from neighbouring sites. The light and airy feeling in this space is complemented with the natural coastal finishes prevalent throughout the home.

James Latta Photography - As an interior designer, I liked my home but was not "in love" with it. I didn't feel in sync with the style and architecture despite compliments from friends and family. It was time for a change. I sold my Floating Home (see Sleepless in Portland: Houseboat Diary) and my La Quinta home (see Transitional Living, La Quinta) and downsized to a house that's a better fit. The home was lacking sufficient storage so I added a beverage center with storage cabinets and a butcher block countertop to the dining room. An Ikea table frame was powder coated in dark grey and fitted with a Cambria Quartz dining top. A matching quartz piece was added to create a kitchen bar seating area and includes a beautiful waterfall edge. Reclaimed wood square tiles were added to the kitchen pop up ceiling and the living room fireplace to add warmth and texture. Black and white photography of the local desert landscape frame the fireplace. Although the home is mainly grey, black and white, pops of red are a recurring theme thought the interior and exterior, including a red barn door at the kitchen pantry. I broke design rules and didnt take the "safe" route. Quirky accent items can be found throughout the home. These include a wall-mounted family accordion, framed movie quotes in one of the guest rooms, a custom canvas photo of my miniature schnauzer, and dragon print accent pillows throughout. A Tongue and Groove (T&G) wood ceiling transformed the master bedroom and a beautiful red area rug adds color and warmth. The result is DARING and yet comfortable. The backyard was completely renovated. Tons of white rock were removed and beautiful landscaping and lighting were added as well as an additional 500 square feet of pavers. A sun shade, red umbrellas, and patio misters create inviting seating areas for friends and family. Tongue and Groove wood was also added to the outdoor patio ceilings. A high end surround sound system and built in BBQ with patterned cement tiles complete this outdoor living space. The process was exhausting and time consuming but now that it is over, I am thrilled with the results. I now live in a home that nourishes my soul and better represents my style and tastes.

The Bunker House is a two-story house with a bomb shelter in the basement. A bunker house is a two-story residential building with a basement bomb shelter. In a short time, we had to equip the basement, master the "two walls" principle and properly seal the windows to protect ourselves and our family from the impact of the shock wave. Our priorities have changed when choosing a home - proximity to the city center or transportation hubs no longer matters. Moreover, SENCE ARCHITECTS also took care of other safety aspects. According to the rules, the storage has two distributed exits outside, each with light "hints" of the direction of evacuation. The basement area is sealed and equipped with a double ventilation system. This is a zone of guaranteed protection against missile attacks, poisonous or radioactive substances, combustion products, and bacteriological weapons. The first mode works on air recovery, providing a fresh flow of it in the absence of heat loss. The second is carried out by a filter ventilation unit — it cleans the outside air, and then distributes it to the compartments and creates excess pressure. Thus, contaminated air will not penetrate inside even through small cracks in protective structures. CONCEPTUAL SOLUTION The structures of the building itself are made of strong reinforced concrete — this way SENCE ARCHITECTS suggests abandoning "glass" facades. The number of windows has also been reduced: they will have a protective anti-shock film, and in case of an explosive wave, they will be closed with reinforced shutters made of fire-resistant plywood. At the entrance to the house and bomb shelter, armored doors are installed. Water is supplied from its own artesian well, electricity — from its own diesel power plant. This means that possible damage to infrastructure facilities will not affect the lives of residents in any way. The house is equipped with modern types of radio- and telephone communication, and satellite Internet, which will work even in the bomb shelter. The signaling and air-raid alert systems are to be installed too. The systems are powered autonomously and have backup channels. Overall, given its specificity, the house is designed for a family of 4-5 people. Size / 733 sq.m. Year / 2022